Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government will need to amend Republic Act 11310, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, before enforcing the proposed 'no vaccine, no subsidy' policy.
The Department of Interior and Local Government earlier proposed that COVID-19 vaccination should become a requirement for 4Ps beneficiaries to receive cash subsidies under the conditional cash transfer program of the government.
"Well tingin ko ay pupuwede namang i-require iyan sa 4Ps pero baka kinakailangan amyendahan iyong batas kasi iyong batas ay nagsasabi kung sino iyong entitled sa 4Ps," Roque said during a virtual press briefing.
"Hindi lang ito isang executive program, ito’y naisabatas ng Kongreso sa pamamagitan ng RA 11310," he added.
The Malacanang official believes that the government has a valid reason to require COVID-19 vaccination for 4Ps beneficiaries.
"So mayroon namang probisyon doon kung paano magkakaroon ng pag-amyenda ang batas at sa tingin ko naman ay isang balidong dahilan na i-require ang vaccination kapalit ng pagtatanggap ng 4Ps benefits," Roque said.
Roque urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the implementing agency for the 4Ps program, to study the suggestion, which seeks to boost the COVID-19 vaccination efforts across the country.
